Thursday, March 18, 2010

Arkansas.gov Becomes the First State to Offer Mobile Payments for eGovernment Services



http://www.Arkansas.gov

Arkansas.gov Becomes the First State to Offer Mobile Payments for eGovernment Services

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Making government payments while on the go just got easier, thanks to a new mobile Web site for Arkansas.gov. With today’s launch of http://arkansas.gov/m, Arkansas is the first state to provide secure payment processing specifically for smartphone users.
“We are committed to using multiple delivery platforms to provide easy access to government services for all Arkansans”
The Arkansas.gov mobile Web site is part of the official Web site of the state of Arkansas. Starting today, the Arkansas.gov mobile site features secure payments for three high-volume online government services: inmate trust account deposits; probation and parole supervision and restitution payments; and Pulaski County property tax payments.
These mobile applications provide a convenient, simple, and secure option for users to access government services and are available on all smartphone operating platforms, including iPhone, Blackberry, Google Android, Windows Mobile, and Palm.
“We are committed to using multiple delivery platforms to provide easy access to government services for all Arkansans,” said Claire Bailey, Chief Information Officer of the state of Arkansas. “With today’s launch, we are excited to be the first state to offer integrated online services and secure payments through a user-friendly Web site that is optimized for mobile users.”
Arkansas.gov’s mobile site is the latest enhancement to the state’s eGovernment services for mobile phone users. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission’s Game Check service provides real-time game tagging for mobile devices and the state also provides iPhone apps for the Arkansas.gov Web site and the Recovery.Arkansas.gov searchable service to locate nearby recovery projects funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.
The state’s decision to launch an optimized mobile version of Arkansas.gov was driven by the growing popularity of smartphone devices in the state. “We recognize that Arkansans are increasingly using their smartphones for everyday Internet access and are aggressively introducing new mobile-friendly online services that work on a range of smartphone operating platforms,” continued Bailey.
The applications will render on any mobile device based on the specific device’s screen size and capabilities, which makes government information and services even more convenient and accessible. All Visa, MasterCard, and Discover mobile transactions are processed through Arkansas.gov’s secure payment system.
Additional information about Arkansas.gov’s new mobile payment services:
  • Inmate Deposit Service – Friends and family can make secure deposits to an inmate's Department of Correction-managed trust or prepaid phone account in real time.

  • Probation and Parole Supervision and Restitution Payments – Paying monthly supervision, drug court, or restitution fees is now much easier for offenders supervised by the Department of Community Correction. The mobile payment application makes paying restitution quick and easy for users that might not have access to a computer.

  • Pulaski County Property Tax Payments – Users in Arkansas’s largest county can enter their parcel information and pay installments or the total amount due on their personal property and real estate taxes.

About Arkansas.gov
Arkansas.gov is the official Web site of the state of Arkansas (http://www.arkansas.gov) and a service of the Information Network of Arkansas. The Information Network of Arkansas is a collaborative effort between the state of Arkansas and Arkansas Information Consortium that helps state government entities Web-enable their information services. Arkansas Information Consortium is a Little Rock-based subsidiary of the eGovernment firm NIC (NASDAQ: EGOV).
About NIC
NIC is the nation’s leading provider of official government Web sites, online services, and secure payment processing solutions. The company’s innovative eGovernment services help reduce costs and increase efficiencies for government agencies, citizens, and businesses across the country. NIC provides eGovernment solutions for more than 3,000 federal, state, and local agencies that serve 97 million people in the United States. Additional information is available at http://www.nicusa.com.

Contacts

Arkansas.gov

Janet Grard, 501-324-8907

janet@ark.org
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